As pupils across Switzerland soon start returning to school, some might wonder how well ventilated school classrooms are. A study published by Switzerland’s Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) in 2019 estimates that the air quality in two thirds of Swiss classrooms was inadequate. The study, which ran over two years, sampled the air quality […]
Coronavirus: Basel becomes first German-speaking canton to make masks compulsory in shops
From Monday, masks will be compulsory in shops in the canton of Basel-City, according to a recent government press release. The measure, which comes into force on Monday 24 August 2020, is set to last until 31 December 2020. The canton’s authorities are concerned by the recent rise in cases. Lukas Engelberger, the canton’s health […]
Coronavirus: Neuchâtel makes masks compulsory in shops from Friday
From Friday, Neuchâtel will become the fourth Swiss canton after Vaud, Geneva and Jura to make masks compulsory in shops, according to 24 Heures. The measure, which comes into force on Friday 21 August 2020, is set to last until 30 September 2020. People entering shops large enough for 10 people, including staff, will be […]
Coronavirus: virus found in skin of woman testing negative at Basel hospital
A report from the University Hospital of Basel, recently published by The Lancet, adds to evidence of the unreliability of PCR and antibody Covid-19 tests. An 81 year old woman with Covid-19 symptoms was admitted to the hospital and given a SARS-CoV-2 PCR test1. The test came back negative. 6 weeks later she was given […]
Coronavirus: a quarter of Swiss employees don’t want to be vaccinated, suggests survey
A survey run by the Bern University of Applied Sciences on behalf of the trade union Travail suisse suggests a significant portion of Switzerland’s workforce does not want to be vaccinated against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, reports the newspaper 20 Minutes. According to the survey, 45.8% would be willing to take a government certified vaccine, 29.5% were undecided […]
Anti-corona protest planned later this month in Zurich
After protests in May 2020, an eclectic group of anti-corona protestors is planning to protest against vaccines, masks and other measures aimed at limiting the spread of the virus on 29 August 2020 in Zurich, according to the newspaper Le Matin. In May 2020, several anti-corona protests took place across Switzerland. The police took action […]
Switzerland adds 11 more nations to its compulsory quarantine list
From 20 August 2020, people entering Switzerland from Andorra, Belgium, Monaco and 50 other nations must quarantine for 10 days. Switzerland’s Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) recently added 11 places to its existing list of regions where there is an increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Among them are Albania, Andorra, Gibraltar, Monaco, Belgium and […]
Coronavirus: Switzerland’s public mood has changed, according to health minister
According to Alain Berset, Switzerland’s minister of health, the public mood has changed over the last six months, reports the newspaper Le Matin. The tetchy public response to last week’s mistake by the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) when it published an erroneous analysis of data on the sources of SARS-CoV-2 infections reflects a […]
Coronavirus: new masks rules for pupils of post-obligatory schools in French-speaking Switzerland
This week, the association of public teachers for the French- and Italian-speaking regions of Switzerland (CIIP) published its guidelines for reducing the spread of Covid-19 when schools reopen. The cantons followed with their new rules. Staff and teachers at all levels of school will continue to wear masks in situations where they are less than […]
Coronavirus: new cases in Switzerland rise 35 percent this week
In the seven days to 14 August 2020, the reported number of new SARS-CoV-2 infections recorded in Switzerland was 1,402, 35% higher than the 1,037 cases recorded the week before. The 7-day rolling average number of new cases was 200. The last time it was this high was 25 April 2020. Over the weeks prior […]
